Automatic clutch.



W. KLOQKE & J. E. DOBSON.

AUTOMATIC CLUTCH.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY14, 1910.

Patented May 9, 1911.

INVENTORS ,WILL'IAM KLOCKE AND JOHN E.

DOIBSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOBS TO E. W.

BLISS COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF WESTWTIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC cnu'rcn.

aamse.

Specification of'Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1911.

Application filed July 14, 1910. Serial in). 571,958.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM Knocks, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, and J OHN E. DOBSON, residing inthe borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, both citizens of the United St-ates,-

have jointly invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates clutches, and is particularly designed to permitthe coupling of such clutches while the machine to which it is applied is operating at a high rate of speed.

This clutch will be found useful in connection with drawing, punching and stamping machines of the many kinds wherein a speed of 125 to. 150 revolutions per minute is a high speed, and at such speeds it is difiicult to obtain asatisfactory coupling of clutches without accident. Our machine therefore is not only designed to emit rapid and efficient coupling at sucli high rate of speed, but it also provides against an uneven strain upon the parts whereby the driving wheel is thrown out of balance.

A further object is to provide means for taking up or compensating for wear in parts exposed thereto.

One embodiment of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,- p

Figure iis'an elevation partly in section of a porti n of a shaft and driving wheel having ourimproved I clutch in osition thereon; Fig.2 1s a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking toward the right; Fig. 3 is a similar section on the line 3-3 also looking to the right. 7

In the drawings, let A-represent a shaft which is supported in hearings in the-main frame B of the machine and in an arm C thereof. Upon this shaft is mounted a driving wheel D, which may also act as a balance wheel. A suitable sleeve, as d, may be interposed if desired between the wheel D and the shaft, and the said wheel volves freely upon the said shaft. A clutch member intheform of a collar E is keyed upon the shaft A b suitable keys e which to automatic D normally re-- the shaft A, at the same time holding it to turn with said} shaft. Suitable slots or channelsal are located in thehub of the driving wheel D, and in these we prefer to secure one of the cooperating members of the clutch mechanism. We have illustrated the same as consisting of pins F which are driven into the channels al and may be removed therefrom for the purpose of substi tuting others should the said pins become 65 abutments e", and each of these abutments is provided with an inclined entrance e which extends from the bottom of the abutment e to the end of the clutch collar E, thereby facilitatingthe entrance of the clutch pins to their seats even while operating at a 80 very high speed. We have illustrated two clutch pins F, and these are shown as being located substantially opposite each other.

A greater number than this may well be employed, but we prefer not less than two, for' the reason that if only one is employed the driving wheel B is thrown out of balance and caused to wear unevenly. The driving wheel is centered at one side by a hub 12 upon the frame, and at the other side by a small collar or ring 03 suitably secured to the shaft, as by screws, and a corresponding annular groove 6 may be formed upon the inside of the clutch collar E to receive said ring when the clutch collar is moved in the performance of its functions.

The clutch collar E is normally spring pressed toward the driving wheel, as by suitable coiled springs a which are illustrated as seated in recesses e in the outer .end of said clutch collar, and in snnllar recessesf in an end collar G keyed upon the shaft A. Means are provided for moving the .clutch collar E against the pressure of springs 6 consisting of a peri )herally disposed rotary earn '6 on said 001 ar, and a 00- operating trip H which is mounted to swing in an arm h having bearings at k upon the arm'C. A. coiled spring 11. tends to press the trip upward andfis held in position by studs h it upon the arm h and C res ec tively. The trip may be retracted by a ink it to which may be attached the usual foot treadle, not shown, and which may have the usual appliance for holding the treadle in its lowermost position. The rotary came is mounted upon a ledge e of the clutch collar, adjacent to which is the groove 6, and the wall between said ledge and groove 6 is beveled in order that when the cam rides on the trip to its highest part which is flush with the said beveled wall a the trip H will under pressure of its spring b pass into the groove 6 and will owing to the beveled wall 6 force the clutch collar far enough so that clearance will be provided between pins F and the end of the clutch collar.

While we have illustrated the pins as disposed upon the axially fixed member of the clutch and the stop shoulders or abutments upon the axially movable member thereof, this relative disposition of these parts is not essential and might be reversed.

As illustrated, the trip carrying arm It has an eccentric bearing 71. which is for the purpose of compensating for any wear which may take place in the trip H or the coacting face of the cam. This-compensation is accomplished by simply turning the pivot pin upon'which said arm )5. is borne.

Modifications in the number and relative arrangements of the parts illustrated may be made within the scope of our invention, and we do'not wish to be understood as con.- finingourselve's tothe precise shape or form or relative disposition ofthe said parts.

We claim as our invention .1. In] combination, a shaft, a wheel mounted thereon to revolve free thereof, a clutch comprisingfa clutch member keyed on said shafttdreyolve therewith and to move axially thereon, hardened clutch ins located in perforations in said wheel and projecting from'oneside thereof andremovable therefrom andstationary axially, when coupled or uncoupled,- pin cooperating abutments on said movable member, and inclined entrances thereto.

2. In combination, a shaft, a driving wheel mounted. thereon to revolve freely, a sliding clutch member keyed on said shaft,

a plurality of hardened clutch pins removably mounted in perforations in said wheel, and correspondmg abutments on the slidlng clutch member having inclined entrances,

and springs pressing said sliding clutch member normally toward said pins.

3. In combination, a shaft, a driving.

wheel mounted to freely revolve thereon, hardened removable oppositely disposed projecting clutch pins fixed to said wheel, a clutch collar keyed on said shaft to turn therewith, and sliding thereon, cooperating abutments on said collar having inclined entrances, a spring normally pressing said collar toward said driving wheel, a rotary cam on said collar, and a trip spring-pressed into the path of said cam, and means for withdrawing same and permitting the cou- Y pling of said clutch, and means for compensating for the wear on saidtrip.

4. In combination, a shaft, a clutch member mounted to slide thereon and to turn therewith and another clutch member mounted to turnfreely thereon, one of vsaid members having a perforation extending through same to receiveclu'tch pins and permit their removal and a shoulder in said perforation adaptedto provide va stop for said pins, and said perforation extending through said memberfrom saidv shoulder, and hardenedclutch.pins snugly and reT movably mounted 'in said perforations and pin abu-tnients on the other clutch member.

.Inwitness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names in the presence'of two subscribing witnesses. Y

\VILLIAM KLOCKBL JOHN E.DOBSON. Witnesses: 1

FnEnERIo On'rox, Gus'ra'v L.-JonNs oN. 

